About

The GBV Project

This project exists to address the significant gaps and barriers that 2SLGBTQ people face when trying to access supports for gender based violence.

Why does the GBV Project exist?

Due to social norms and traditional approaches, the ways we typically frame and respond to violence often leaves out, or minimizes, the experiences of 2SLGBTQ folx.

When we think about who experiences GBV and who perpetuates GBV, we’re taught to picture a straight/cisgender woman experiencing domestic violence from her straight/cisgender male partner. While this situation remains far too common and needs to be addressed, we also need to make space for the experiences and needs of people outside of this narrative.

We are working to better understand and support 2SLGBTQ survivors of GBV and improve their access to care at all levels.

This project aims to bring awareness to what GBV looks like for 2SLGBTQ people, how to appropriately identify and respond to different forms of GBV, ways in which GBV can be prevented in service provision, and how to support healing for 2SLGBTQ people.

A five-year initiative

With the support of two federal departments and the University of Saskatchewan, OUTSaskatoon is embarking on a five-year initiative to provide trauma- and survivor-informed, feminist, intersectional, and anti-oppressive support services to 2SLGBTQ people.

We’ve work closely with the queer community to discuss barriers and find solutions, as this is a “by the queer community, for the queer community” project.

An Advisory Council made up of service providers and 2SLGBTQ community members also provides guidance around the creation and implementation of training and educational resources.